Gateway, the bovine-branded manufacturer of PCs, announced yesterday that it had come to a parting of the ways with its agency of almost three years, McCann-Erickson Worldwide Advertising's New York office.

No reason was given for the firing, although Gateway spoke Greg Lund insisted it was amicable. "We're currently assessing the needs we have and talking to a number of agencies," he said, remaining staunchly silent as to which.

The axe fell on McCann against a background of other rolling senior heads and layoffs at the troubled PC maker – among them its chief executive, in whose blazing saddle now rides Gateway chairman Theodore W Waitt.

Philosophized the agency’s New York general manager and chief operating officer Eric Keshin: "As often happens, when you have changes in the executive ranks, so, too, come changes with the agency. Our heads are held very high in terms of the work and the results."

Interpublic sibling Universal McCann retains Gateway’s media planning and buying business – at least for the time being.

News source: New York Times